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Planet Egypt Review Live Music Night May 2011 
Majency Magazine 

Live Music Nights at Planet Egypt!
By Elizabeth Hopkins (Editor)

For more than nine years, Planet Egypt has held regular Showcase events at Darbuka and in a new development, have started to host Live Music Nights. The intention is that these events will feature many of the top musicians who have previously performed at Planet Egypt's long established regular showcases. 

The Live Music Nights are initially to be every two months and on a Friday evening. Anne White, who co-hosts Planet Egypt with her supportive team, says "The reason why I'm doing this is to try and revive the live music tradition that has almost disappeared or is at select (expensive) venues with two to three musicians. Mostly now, live music is held at one-off events or in up-market restaurants. I am trying to provide other options. I don't want this amazing experience to disappear and this is likely as so many clubs have closed down... Younger blood is emerging but the real greats still have a contribution to make."

I was lucky to be present at the first of these nights on May 13th. Regulars to Planet Egypt events are used to seeing a full programme of top and up-and-coming dancers, however there were only two guest dance performers at this event - the superb Nawarra and Shafeek Ibrahim. Anne explained why there were only two performers; "The aim is for YOU to experience the joy of dancing to live music all night long..." The main objective of the evening was not to showcase dancers, but to offer live music as the main focus. The dancers were however a great bonus. I'm a big fan of Nawarra's dancing - I love her warmth and energy which uplifts and fills the room as soon as she steps into the light. This evening was no different and she sparkled! Shafeek is a fine performer and showcased two pieces - Tannoura and Saiidi. 

There were many surprises during the evening - and for me, one of the most delightful was watching so many dancers from the audience get up and improvise to live music. There were many wonderful performers in the audience, many of them are professional dancers in their own right, and these dancers made the most of the experience. This made for great entertainment for anyone who wanted to sit out the dancing and watch. I particularly loved watching Emma Chapman from Cambridge and Farah Nasri from London. There's something very special about exceptionally talented dancers dancing in "ordinary" clothes - it's then that you realise that the lycra, sequins and crystals are truly surplus to requirements and that these dancers really need no gilding... 

I have heard Abdul Salam Kheir's fabulous oud playing before and was really looking forward to hearing him sing again as I love his voice. Anne refers to him as "My favourite singer of all time". Abdul is Lebanese and studied music at the Lebanese Conservatoire. It was fascinating watching him move about the venue, singing with warmth and feeling for the audience as they danced and serenading the groups seated at tables around the room.

Another of the surprises of the evening was the singing of the internationally renowned Yasmin Alfyha from Syria who I had not heard before. Her voice is incredible, powerful and warm. The line-up of musicians were first-class and together, with Yasmin's singing, they had those of us who stayed late dancing until the end of the evening. Ibrahim was on the req and tabla. Anne refers to Ibrahim as "The Definative Band leader... one of the most respected and authoratative if not THE authority of the Musicians Community..." Accompanying him on tabla and req was Sherif with Emad Shakir on the org. Together this was a fabulous line-up.

As I write this, the July live music event is still to come, however promises to be equally special. I'm hopeful that these live music events at Darbuka will become a regular feature on the programme of London events and will continue to be as well supported by the London and wider community. As Anne explained, she and the musicians between them have almost 300 years of experience in this field and they love what they do. This was clear to anyone who was fortunate enough to be present at Darbuka for the first event which well and truly lived up to it's promise.